The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) of the UAE has launched the operational phase of its ICT Regulatory Sandbox.
This initiative is designed to ensure that newly introduced tech products and services in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector are appropriately vetted before entering the market. The sandbox offers a controlled environment where companies can test their innovations over a set period as if they were fully approved, allowing for the assessment of various implications including legislative, social, and technological impacts.
Majid Sultan Al Mesmar, TDRA's Director-General, emphasized the importance of this initiative in adapting to the rapid emergence of new technologies and ensuring that legal frameworks evolve accordingly. The Regulatory Sandbox is seen as a vital tool in maintaining the UAE's investment appeal, fostering entrepreneurship, and contributing to the goals outlined in the "We the UAE Vision 2031".
The sandbox process begins with companies submitting applications through TDRA’s official website. These applications are then assessed on various criteria before being subjected to rigorous market environment testing. Following this, experts analyze the results to determine whether the product or service can be licensed for the UAE market.
The sandbox will be particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), startups, and companies in the ICT sector. It will cover a wide range of products, including virtual and augmented reality, cloud computing, smart applications, IoT, digital twins, and blockchain technologies.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
